[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24841]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING ELIZABETH KOSTER AS SHE RECEIVES THE 2005 ATHENA AWARD FROM 
                THE POCONO MOUNTAIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 2, 2005

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Elizabeth 
Koster, of Smithfield Township, Monroe County, PA, who was chosen by 
the Pocono Mountain Chamber of Commerce to receive its 2005 Athena 
Award.
  Mrs. Koster is president and chief executive officer of Fitzmaurice 
Community Services, Inc., which has been serving the needs of special 
populations in the Pocono area for 30 years.
  Founded by Mrs. Koster's mother, Johanna Fitzmaurice, in 1966, the 
business strives to crate environments for persons with disabilities 
that support independence, productivity and inclusion through 
customized services provided by highly qualified staff personnel.
  Mrs. Fitzmaurice died in 1978 but the organization she founded has 
grown over the years under the leadership and vision of her daughter, 
Mrs. Koster.
  Mrs. Koster graduated from East Stroudsburg University after which 
she began her career as a teacher and then as an associate at her 
mother's company, rising to president and CEO following her mother's 
death.
  Today, her company assists hundreds of persons with special needs so 
they can lead meaningful and productive lives by providing housing, 
education, recreation and medical services.
  Mrs. Koster serves on the boards of directors of the Pocono Mountains 
Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Eastern Monroe Public Library, 
Leadership Pocono and the ESU Rehabilitation Services Advisory Council. 
She is a member of the Kiwanis Club of the Stoudsburgs, advisor for the 
Kiwanis AKTION Club of Stroudsburg and is past president of the 
Northeast Providers Association, the Pocono Providers Association and 
past vice chair of the Mental Retardation Committee for Pennsylvania 
Community providers Association.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mrs. Koster on this 
occasion. Athena award winners are chosen on the basis of their 
professional excellence and service to community. Clearly, Mrs. Koster 
demonstrates those qualities.

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